Wall trim assemblies



Uct. 21, 1969 J. M. GossEN WALL TRIM ASSEMBLIES Filed Feb. 1, 1988 v Z fi 0/ z z. w LW INVENTOR JOHN M. GOSSEN f Y W B z AT TORNEYS 3,473,278 WALL TREIM ASSEMBUES .iohn M. Gossen, Glendaie, Wis., assignor to Gossen Corp., Milwaukee, Wis., a Corporation of Wisconsin Filed Feb. 1, 1968, Ser. No. 702,270 int. Cl. E04f 19/02 U5. Cl. 52-287 4 Ciaims ABSTRACT OF THE DESCLOSURE An inexpensive fiexible plastic trim member for use as a baseboard or as a decorative casing or molding around doors or windows, which trim can be detachably snapped onto a longitudinal tubular plastic mounting element secured to the wall, and which novel detachable trim member is designed to ex to automatically accommodate uneven or offset jamb and frame junctures to cover and hide the same, thereby enhancing the nished appearance of the room.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The present invention relates to the building and construction art, and more particularly to an improved baseboard or casing assembly for use in room interiors.

Description of the prior art The baseboard and casement members utilizcd as ornamental wall trim in building interiors are ordinarily formed of Wood and are nailed or otherwise permanently secured in place. Obviously such conventional trim members cannot be readily temporarily removed when it is desired to paint or thoroughly clean the room, or quickly and easily replaced in the event they become scratched or marred. Further disadvantages of conventional wooden wall trim are that it is costly to manufacture and install, and requires extensive care and frequent refinishing. Moreover, woodwork is subject to shrinkage and expansion in response to varying clirnatic and temperature conditions, as well as warpage and deterioration resulting from age. In addition, conventional wooden trim members are rigid and cannot be flexed to accommodate uneven or offset wall and frame or jamb connections, with the result that there are unsightly gaps or clearances between said trim and the adjacent surface.

Heretofore there have been a number of atternpts to provide building finish trim which is remova'ble, with the attendant advantages hereinabove mentioned, but most of said prior removable trim assemblies have utilized specally-formed metallic clips and complementary aligned receiving elements and such devices have proven too complex and expensive for widespread acceptance and use in the industry. Examples of such prior trim assemblies are disclosed in the following U.S. patents: Gerspacher No. 2,44l,698; Bennett No. 2,134,393; Hale No. 2,878,- 845; Marshall No. 2346264; Bensman No. 2,887,739; Goldsmith No. 2,604 .776; and VVollaeger No. 2,203,119.

In addition to the fact that the detachable trim members heretofore designed have been too expensive and iuconvenient to use, or have otherwise proven unsatisfactory for their intended purpose, none of said prior trim members has been formed of a spring-like fiexible material which permits said trim to be utilized as a self-adjusting casing to cover offset wall and frame abutments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a novel plastic baseboard or casing assembly wherein the trim element is adapted to be detachably snapped onto an elongated tubuft nited States Patet O ice lar member secured to the wall, the detachable mounting of said trim permitting it to be quickly and easily temporarily removed when it is desired to paint the wall, thereby eliminating the possibility of said trim being spattered with paint, or it can be removed when it is desired to thoroughly wash or sanitize the room. In addition, said novel snap-on trim member is formed of a fiexible material and is spring-like in design to automatically compensate for uneven wall and frame connections to enhance the smooth, aesthetic appearance of the trim.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved baseboard or casement which can be provided with attractive simulated wood grain finishes or other ornamentation of desired color and style, which finish trim greatly enhances the decorative appearance Of a room.

A further object is to provide a novel plastic baseboard or casing member which is durable and long-lasting, and which is not easily marred or scratched.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel snap-on wall trim assembly which can be installed quickly and easily by relatively unskilled workmen without the use of any special tools or equipment.

A further object is to provide a new and improved wall trim which is free from visible attaching means such as filled nail holes and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel plastic wall trim which can be readily cut to desired lengths.

A further object is to provide a new and improved interior wall trim assembly formed entirely of plastic or similar relatively inexpensive material, which trim can be manufactured for substantially less cost than conventional wooden or metal trim.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a decorative wall trim which can be employed either as a casement or molding or as a baseboard and which, when it is utilizcd as a baseboard, can be removably mounted on a conventional electrical wiring conduit secured to the wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the accompanying drawing, wherein the same refer- .ence numerals designate the same or similar parts in all DESCRPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the novel wall trim assembly comprising the present invention includes an elongated finish trim element 10 which can be utilized as either a baseboard or as a casing or molding around door or window frames, or other appurtenances. Said trim member is preferably formed of polyvinyl Chloride or similar low cost plastic material which is not only tough and durable but which provides a springlike fiexibility and resiliency, the purpose of which will become apparent hereinafter.

Said trim element 19 includes a body 11 having its upper portion Curved gradually inwardly, asshown, and which terminates in a top longitudinal edge 12. Extending transversely inwardly on and along the bottom of said body is a base iiange 13 having a longitudinal edge 14.

said base flange normally being disposed at a slght upward angle a when said trim element is not installed on an offset wall and frame mounting. With respect to the references herein to the top and bottom of said trim element, incidentally, it is to be understood that the decorative wall trim comprising the present invention can be mounted either horizontally or vertically, depending upon its intended use, and the invention is not to be limited or confined in this respect. Said terms of reference are intended merely to facilitate a clear understanding of the structure as it is illustrated in the drawing.

Intermediate the height of the trim body 11 is an inwardly-projecting longitudinal rib or neck 16, and formed integrally on the inner, free end thereof is a C- shaped clamping element 17 which is substantially coextensive with said trim member. As will be seen in the drawing, said clamping element '17 does not extend inwardly as far as the body top and bottom edges 12, 14.

The mounting element utilized in the illustrated embodiment of the present invention comprises an elongated strip 18 of relatively rigid plastic or other suitable low cost but durable material which is fastened to the wall 22 or other surface by means of a plurality of spaced screws 21 or other fasteners, there preferably being screwreceiving apertures spaced along the length of said strip. Formed integrally on and along the lower margin of said strip 18 is a coextensive tubular protrusion 19 having an exterior diameter slightly greater than the normal inner diameter of the aforementioned C-shaped clamping element 17.

With reference now more particularly to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawing, when it is desired to install the trim assembly comprising the present invention on a flat wall surface, as the trim member 10 is to be utilized as a baseboard, the elongated mounting strip 18 is first secured in position on the wall 22 in desired spaced relationship to the fioor. As hereinabove described, said strip can be attached to the wall by spaced screws 21 or other suitable fastening means.

The trim member 10 is next positioned adjacent said mounting strip with the C-shaped clamping element 17 on said trim member aligned with and facing the elongated tubular protrusion 19 (FIG. 2) on said strip. The trim member 10 is then manually urged inwardly toward the wall to cause said C-shaped clamping element 17 to snap onto and around said tubular mounting member, the

i spring-like resiliency of the flexible plastic material allowing said clamping element legs to separate suificiently to permit said tubular member to be removably clamped therebetween. As said trim member is snapped into position on said tubular mounting element 19 the top and bottom longitudinal edges '12, 14 of said trim member pressurably bear against the inwardly adjacent wall surface 22, the resulting spring tension causing said trim member to flex somewhat and providing a snug fit against said Wall surface with no unsightly gaps or spaces therebetween.

To remove the novel trim comprising the present invention the member 11 can be grasped and manually pulled outwardly away from the wall to forcibly disengage the yieldable clamping element 17 from the tubular mounting member 19. If said trim cannot be readily grasped a tool or pry may be inserted between said trim and the Wall, and leverage applied to snap said trim free of its mounting. As hereinabove mentioned, when it is desired to paint the wall the removable nature of the present trim is a decided advantage over conventional non-removable baseboard and casing members, the detachment and removal of said trim eliminating the possibility of paint being splattered or running down thereon. Moreover, said snap-on trim assembly is advantageous in hospitals, nursing homes, sanitariums, and hotels and motels, wherein sanitation is essential and wherein the removable nature of said trim permits thorough Cleaning and disinfecting of the room. After the wall has been painted or cleaned the trim can be quickly and easily reinstalled merely by again snapping it onto the mounting7 member 19.

Another important feature of the decorative finish trim comprising the present invention is that it can be effectively utilized to cover and hide from view uneven or otfset lineal junctures between a wall and a window or door frame, or between two non-fiush frame members, which is not uncommon. In such instances, and referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawing, if a door frame member 23 is set back or recessed relative to the wall 22, the casing 10 may be mounted on the tubular mounting member 19 fixed to said wall and the spring-like Character of said casinfI will cause it to snugly engage both of said surfaces. When thus installed, the casing base flange 13 pressurably bears against the forwardly offset surface 22 and is biased downwardly to assume a substantially horizontai position. The resulting spring tension causes the upper portion of said casing to be urged inwardly from its normal broken line position to a position where the upper longitudinal edge 12 thereof pressurably engages the recessed frame member 2.3, the clamping element neck 16 bowing slightly under said tension, as shown. The result is a neat and attractive decorative trim assembly which greatly enhances the appearance of the room.

It is to be understood that while the trim member 10 featured in the present invention has been illustrated and hereinabove described as being detachably mounted on the elongated plastic mounting member 19 which is specially provided therefor, other comparable tubular mounting means could be employed, and the invention is not to be limited in this respect, It is contemplated, for example, that when said trim is to be utilized as a baseboard it can be detachably snapped onto a conventional electric wire conduit carried on the wall adjacent the fioor, thereby not only hiding said conduit from view but also utilizing it in the baseboard mounting assembly. Moreover, the removability of said baseboard permits ready accessibility to the electrical conduit if required. The housing of an electrical conduit or wiring within a baseboard is not new, of course, but the dual use of said conduit both as a housing for wires and as an integral part of the baseboard mounting assembly is believed to be a new innovation in the building industry.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be seen that the present invention provides a new and improved interior wall trim having a number of advantages over conventional baseboard and casing assemblies. The snapon trim comprising the present invention is not only detachable to permit it to be temporan'ly removed When it is desired to paint or wash the wall, but said trim is characterized by a spring-like fiexibility which makes it selfadjusting to accommodate uneven or offset frame or jamb mountings to promote the smooth aesthetic appearance of the trim. In addition, said improved trim assembly is tough and durable, it can be installed without the use of special tools or equipment by relatively unskilled workmen, it can be readily cut to desired lengths, and it can be produced for substantially less cost than conventional wooden or metal finish trim.

W'hile a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described herein, numerous Variations or modifications will undoubtedly occur to those skilled in the art. What is intended to be covered is not only the form of the invention hereinabove dsclosed, but 'also any and all variations or modifications thereof as may come within the spirit of said invention.

What I claim is:

1. A decorative building wall trim assembly, comprising: an elongated tubular mounting member secured to a first surface adjacent the juncture of said surface with a second, offset, substantially parallel surface; an elongated one-piece trim member formed of spring-like flexible and resilent plastic material, said trim member being forrned in transverse cross section with an arcuate body curved 5 inwardly in partially surrounding relationship to said mounting member, said trim having an upper portiou terminating in an inWardly-facing top longitudinal edge, and having an integral inwardly-extending bottom fiange with an inWardly-facing inner longitudinal edge; a longitudinally-extending neck element formed on the inner surface of said body intermediate lits height and projecting transversely inwardly therefrom, said neck element being flexible and resilient and being adapted to bow under tension; a clamping member formed integrally on the inner end of said neck element, said clamping member being substantially C-shaped in cross section with an inwardlyfacing longitudinal opening which is normally narrower than the outer diameter of said tubular mounting member, said C-shaped clamping member projecting inwardly a distance less than the inWardly-extending longitudinal edges of said body upper portion and bottom fiange and the fiexible nature of said trim material permitting the legs of said C-shaped clamping member to be yieldingly spread apart lunder tension to removably snappingly engage partially around said tubular mounting member, the engagement of said trim clamping member on said tubular mounting member resulting in the inner longitudinal edge of said trim member bottorn fiange pressurably abutting against said first surface and causing a tensioned bowing of said trim member neck element and defiection of the trim member upper portion to a position Where the upper, inwardly-facing longitudinal edge thereof pressurably abuts said offset second surface to cover said juncture from view, the fiexible and resilient nature of said trim member permitting it to be snappingly disengaged from said tubular mounting member and removed When desired.

2. The Wall trim assembly recited in claim 1 wherein said flexible trim member is self-adjusting to automatically pressurably engage said offset surfaces.

3. The Wall trim assembly recited in claim 1 wherein said trirn is formed of a plastic material adapted to be cut to any desired length.

4. The Wall trim assembly recited in claim 1 wherein said tubular mounting member is an electric wire conduit.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,823,951 2/1958 Stahl 52-717 X 3,201,909 8/ 1965 Grun 52-287 3,228,165 1/1966 Begian 52-288 X 3,286,422 11/1966 Pangerl 52-287 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,076,735 4/ 1954 France. 1,248,702 11/1960 France. 1,317,930 1/1963 France.

ALFRED C. PERHAM, Primary EXaminer U.S. Cl. X.R. 52-211, 220, 717 

